Innovative ways of treating comorbid diabetes type II and depression: piloting the 'MADE-IT' program.

272 symptoms of any mental disorder. Older age and never having been married were associated with less likelihood of having symptoms of an affective disorder. Those with cognitive impairment were more likely to have had symptoms consistent with an affective disorder. Comorbidity was predictive of increasing disability on the SF-12 but rates of mental health consultation were low, even for those with multiple disorders. Conclusions: Community-dwelling elderly Australians experience substantial rates of mental disorders. Demographic correlates of mental disorder in this elderly population appear to differ from those established in younger populations. Mental disorder in elderly Australians is associated with signifi cant disability, but rates of specialist mental health consultation is low.